vertical-endeavour.com

Hiker dies on Drakensberg
27/10/2008 17:39 - (SA)

Durban - A 68-year old man was killed when he fell while hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.

Police spokesperson Captain Charmain Struwig said Luciano Colombo was hiking with a group through Camel Pass when he slipped and fell several metres.

She said Colombo, who was an experienced hiker from Durban's Amanzimtoti suburb, died on impact. A helicopter retrieved Colombo's body on Sunday afternoon. Police have opened an inquest docket.

That's pretty grim news.

I'd hazard a guess as to where it happened - that bit where the path washed away years ago and you have to inch along hoping your soles have enough grip.

I'm taking rope with next time I do Camel Pass...

Did anyone here know Mr Colombo? My condolences to you and the family.

Yes it's grim...

Some more details from The Witness:


I guess that should read "descended Camels Pass" rather than "ascended".

I think I know which place you are referring to fatshark, and it could very well have been there.

It's always a sobering reminder of the inherent danger of these mountains, especially scrambling up passes.

I am a member of the Mountain Backpackers Club and have hiked on a number of occasions with Luciano, including completing the last 2 Grand Traverses with him. There will be a tribute to him tomorrow evening at the Whirling Wheels Clubhouse in Durban. His funeral takes place in Amanzimtoti on Friday at 2pm. Luciano was a wonderful man; an experienced hiker and exceptionally knowledgeable of the Berg. He will be remembered for his kindness, endearing personality, sense of humour, his incredible strength and stamina and most of all for the constant smile he wore on his face.
He will be sorely missed.

Hi Christine.

As Vertical Endeavour we sympathise with your loss. Not so long ago (just over a month) I lost a friend who worked with me at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. He was a brilliant ecologist who died in an aeroplane crash on the coast of Mozambique. It was a very hard time for us all as James was also very similar to how you describe Luciano. Always smiling, always apparently happy, although the weight of the world might be on his shoulders, he still found time to find a smile. It seems so insane that the world should be robbed of people like that, and yet, the challenge is there for us who remember them, and who remain, to emulate something of the rich deposit they left in us as people, and pass that on to the world around us, so that in some way they may be remembered for the impact they had on us, whether by living or dying.

Again, our desire is for no further loss of life in the Berg, and yet, at least Luciano was doing something he loved! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and his family as you all deal with this loss.

Very sad to hear about the loss of life in the berg.

We hiked up the Camel Route in September. And even though it had not rained for bit, that section around Castle Butress is not good, being on the south side it stays damp. It would be the most likely place to slip. if I remember there are 2 places where extream coution needs to be taken. I was walking behind my wife and there were a few tense moments as we crossed those sections.